Chapter 44: milky, warm cold chocolate.
Thompson stood beside Jark as he explained Jark’s previous night’s episode to Chris, who is Jark’s personal doctor.
Chris combined the new test and scan results with Thompson’s details.
"From everything I have gotten, your episode ended in a matter of hours," Chris said, dropping his glass down as he stared at Jark.
"Is that a progress?" Thompson asked curiously.
Chris dropped the file down and sighed, confused. "I won’t say anything for sure."
"But..."
Chris cut him off before he could complete his sentence. "Thompson, I know that you think that she has a healing connection to him, but in medical terms that can’t be explained. It was just a short episode. Maybe it’s a new symptom or something."
"I remembered half of what happened during my episode, which has never happened before. Are you saying that there’s still no progress?" Jark, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly spoke up.
Chris went silent for a few seconds.
"I think this is getting more complicated. I think the same to be progress, but the scan showed no progress." Chris lifted the file back up and jotted down something. Then something suddenly clicked in his mind. "Wait, blood. Did you get in touch with her blood or anything?" There was a little excitement on his face.
Jark frowned as he tried hard to remember. "Like getting her blood stain on me?"
"Not exactly. It’s more like getting her blood inside of your body. Like... it’s complicated. How do I explain?" Chris used his pen to tap on his head.
"No, I didn’t get her blood in me," Jark said after trying hard to remember.
Chris’s face suddenly dropped. "Then we have nothing here, but I will keep doing research on the sudden change. But for now, stay out of rainfall, please."
Jark raised his eyebrow at him with a smirk. "Is that supposed to come as a warning?"
"No, an advice," Chris replied, putting back his glasses.
He walked Jark and Thompson to the car. Though he was Jark’s personal doctor, he was also one of Jark’s trusted friends who had seen Jark through his worst. After making sure that the car had left, he walked back to the laptop to continue the new research.
Ring... Ring...
Thompson picked up the phone and handed it to Jark, whose eyes were shut closed, with one of his hands massaging his jaw. His eyes flared open when Thompson tapped him.
"Your phone has been ringing," Thompson said, handing him the phone.
"Thank you." He stretched his hand and collected the phone.
The moment he answered the phone, his uncle’s voice came through, sounding displeased.
"I’m heading to the office now."
"What if I say I’m still in the mansion?"
"Then you will miss what I have for you," he retorted.
"What is that?"
"You can tell Thompson to stop working on the case."
"Why didn’t you tell me that in time? I will meet you in the next fifteen minutes."
"Don’t you dare command me, kid. I’m your uncle, not your toy. Anyway, I will meet you in the next fifteen minutes."
The call was disconnected by his uncle. Jark couldn’t help but shake his head.
.......................
"You never came to see me as promised," the old lady said.
Her voice startled Kathe, who was absent-minded and didn’t even notice the old lady’s presence.
"Grandma."
The old lady smiled at her as she sat on the bed. "How are you, dear?"
"I’m good," Kathe replied with a smile, also feeling guilty that she hadn’t even checked on the old lady.
The old lady, who had a keen eyesight, already noticed that something was wrong with her.
"Are you sure? Because you seemed to be so lost in thought that you didn’t even notice when I walked in."
"I’m sorry," Kathe said, dropping her face.
The old lady frowned, a little confused as to why she was apologizing.
"Why are you apologizing? So, how was the green stuff you went to check?" she asked, wiggling her brows at Kathe.
Kathe bit her tongue, remembering the silly lie she had told the old lady.
"Oh... that."
"Yes, that, Kathe," the old lady said as she leaned in, interested in the little gossip.
Kathe tried her best to make things up, but her brain kept failing her. To make matters worse, the old lady was smiling at her curiously.
"Yes, Grandma."
"What is wrong with your arm?" the old lady asked, poking Kathe’s arm.
"Ouch!"
Seeing Kathe’s reaction, the old lady’s face turned sour.
"Kathe, what happened yesterday?"
"Oh, yesterday..." Kathe’s eyes met the old lady’s. She didn’t want to tell her about Jark’s episode.
"Everything is Jark’s fault. He left me alone at the field to make some business calls. It was late, and I couldn’t see properly, so I slipped and fell inside the pond. The scratches are from when I rolled, while some are from the sharp stones inside the water. I didn’t want you to get worried. That’s why I didn’t come to see you last night."
Smack!
The old lady hit her walking stick on the ground, furious.
"Nonsense! How could you both be so irresponsible? Where’s my phone? I need to talk to him."
The old lady was about to stand up, but Kathe quickly held her back.
"No, Grandma, don’t. He might be in an important meeting. You can scold him when he gets back. And it isn’t particularly his fault. I was too curious."
"But still..."
"This is mostly the reason I couldn’t come yesterday," Kathe said, faking a sad face.
’I’m sorry that I’m manipulating you, Grandma, but this is the only way of stopping you,’ Kathe thought to herself.
The old lady’s heart softened after seeing her sad expression.
"It’s okay, but when he gets back, I’m scolding him."
"That’s nice."
The old lady spent half of the day with Kathe in her room, while Kathe spent most of her day lying to the old lady about what she didn’t even experience on her fake outing.
.......................
"Do you want me to get you anything for you?" Thompson asked Jark, seeing how impatient he was getting. It had been more than fifteen minutes, yet his uncle hadn’t arrived as planned.
Jark waved his hand at him. "Nothing, I’m fine."
"Boss, should I track his location?" he leaned and whispered to Jark.
Jark’s eyes immediately flared open with a smirk on his face.
"Do you remember what happened the last time you did that?"
Thompson suddenly developed a chill, remembering the punishment he had received from Jark’s uncle.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
"I hope none of you is plotting something evil against me."
A tall, well-built, handsome man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties walked in, swinging his keys in mid-air, and threw his jacket on Thompson.
"You are right on time," Jark said, checking his time with a forced smile.
"I knew I couldn’t keep you waiting. Jark, get me a milky, cold, mid-warm chocolate coffee. I need that to cool myself," Jark’s uncle said, taking his seat and clicking his tongue against the back of his teeth.
"Huh?"
"Do you need a tutorial on that? I will be glad to give you one." Marcus threw Thompson a glare.
"No, I will go make it." Thompson quickly walked out of the room.
Jark stared at Marcus, his look complicated.
"Why are you looking at me that way, nephew? Don’t tell me you’re into guys," Marcus said dramatically.
Used to his uncle’s behavior, Jark sighed inwardly.
"Hope your flight wasn’t hectic."
Marcus clapped his hands on his cheeks, staring at Jark.
"Oh my, since when did our heavenly cold Jark become so caring? I see Kathe is doing a good job. By the way, where is she? I heard that she’s walking here." He wiggled his eyebrows at Jark.
"You heard, or you carried out an investigation?" Jark said as he tilted his neck.
"It’s not my fault. I’ve been dying to meet her, but my nephew hates me."
"Where is it?" Jark asked directly.
"Where’s what?" Marcus replied, confused.
"The stuff we talked about over the phone."
"What stuff?"
Though he knew his playful nature, he couldn’t help but feel tortured.
Marcus suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! I got you. See your damn face. Anyways, here it is. Take a look."
Marcus suddenly became serious and handed Jark a blue pen drive.
"Where is their location?" Jark asked, dropping the drive on the table.
"Asia. I’m sure your little Thompson must have told you that. They have gone into hiding, which is true. It will take us lots of resources to get to them, but I’m willing to help."
"Uncle, you seem to be helping me out just like that."
"What do you mean? Are you trying to call me a thick skin?" Marcus suddenly flared up angrily. As he watched Jark’s reaction and saw that Jark was busy with the drive, he quickly dropped his pretense.
"Okay, I need your help with something."
"What’s that?"
"I will be hosting a business party. I want you to come crack many deals for me." He paused for a moment as a cunning smile spread across his face. "Not just you. Don’t forget to come with Kathe."
"What if I refuse to come?"
"Then you carry out your search alone. What do you say?"
"Hmmm... something seems to be missing."
"What’s that?"
"Grandma’s invitation."
"Hey, don’t you dare. I don’t need the old lady around."
"Hmmm."
"You sly."
"I won’t."
The door swung open, and Thompson walked in, holding the coffee in his hand. His eyes drifted to Jark pleadingly.
"Hahaha! My coffee is ready. I must admit, you are pretty fast," Marcus said as he happily collected the mug from Thompson. He suddenly took a sip, then immediately spat everything out.
"Ahhh! What is this, Thompson? Were you taught only to handle guns?"
"I’m sorry, but I couldn’t make that cold coffee something," Thompson said.
"He’s pretty useless," Marcus said to Jark, then turned back to Thompson. "Anyways, I’m in a good mood. Come, I will go teach you."
"No, I have important..."
"No work. Don’t worry, Jark won’t give you any job during my lesson."
With that, he dragged the poor Thompson out of the room.
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